Alex Morgan in France, could ink deal with Lyon

Multiple media reports have placed Alex Morgan in Lyon, France this week admid speculation she could soon sign to play for the French power. French news outlet PiedsCarres was the first to report that Morgan was visiting with the club. Romanin Blland of Eurosport later reported that Morgan has met with Lyon’s medical staff, a step that seems unlikely unless the sides were discussing details on a contract.

This confirms Alex Morgan had a medical with OL. https://t.co/ekIzo5WWgF

— Sylvain Jamet (@S_Jamet) December 1, 2016

Sources have confirmed to The Equalizer that Morgan playing at Lyon is a real possibility but also indicated the move would be in the short-term with a return to Orlando Pride following the conclusion of Lyon’s season. Eight matches into their domestic season, Lyon find themselves in familiar territory, locked in a battle with Paris Saint-Germain for the title. Neither has dropped a point and the top spot is likely to come down to their head-to-head matches December 17 in Paris and next May 14 in Lyon. The longest the season could go is June 1, the date of the Champions League final in Cardiff.

Morgan has long been linked with a move to Lyon, mostly due to the public wooing from owner Jean-Michel Aulas. Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo are among prominent Americans who have played for Lyon, who have won the last 10 French League titles and are Champions League holders. Aulas suggested over the summer that more could be on the way.

Signing through the end of the current season would resemble a traditional loan arrangement, but Morgan’s contract status is murky in the face of the collective bargaining impasse between U.S. players and U.S. Soccer. Morgan plays for the Pride through a contract with U.S. Soccer, but with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire with the end of the year, the status of players currently under contract with U.S. Soccer is uncertain. It is not clear whether Morgan must wait for that deal to expire before making anything official with Lyon.

Another point of interest if Morgan winds up in Lyon is how she would fit in soccer wise. The club is one of the deepest in the world including the crack striker pairing of Eugenie Le Sommer and Ada Hegerberg. Morgan scored 4 goals with 1 assist in 15 matches for the Pride last season.